I employ a cyclic strategy in my diet, although it is not specific to carbohydrates. I cycle my total calories. Three days in a row, I I eat about 500 calories lower than my maintenance level, then for one day, I eat about 150 calories lower than my maintenance. I began cycling this way once I reached my ideal body weight and plateaued, but still desired an even lower body fat percentage. And once I began the cycling, I very consistently lost small amounts of body fat while maintaining lean muscle mass after a period of no change before. I think it is very useful to break through plateaus if you are experiencing one, but I don't think it's necessarily a better method to lose weight in general if you have quite a bit of weight to lose. But if your weight loss has stalled or you are already at a normal weight and simply want to get leaner, I'd definitely consider it.

It depends on your goals and ability to adhere. Cycling in general is difficult for many because you're constantly adjusting/adapting. There is nothing magical about this form of dieting for weight loss. One might consider "carbing up" before an endurance event or after a particularly strenuous bout of strength training when insulin sensitivity is high and glycogen stores are low. Other than that, no magic. Doesn't make you lose weight faster. Not metabolically significant/superior. Cycling for the sake of cycling seems like a needless ritual.

This doesn't work for me. When I switch from a diet containing more carbs to a low carb diet, it is an uncomfortable adjustment. Once I have gone through the switch, I feel fine, have great energy, and NO HUNGER!!!!! When I go back and forth, I am just mostly hungry. I am sure it works well for some.

Reading Chris Powell from ABC'S Extreme Makeover: Weight Loss Edition's book called Choose to Lose. It talks about carb cycling and focusing on high carb and low carb days and alternating between the two. You still eat carbs during your breakfast on the low carb day. It makes sense what he says and he seems to understand what is healthy for people. Has any tried it, or anything similar? Worth putting the effort in?

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